He was caught by dog catchers, rounded up, put on a truck and sent northwards to catch rabbits during the rabbit plague.

Peterborough History Group chair Heather Parker said when the train stopped at Terowie, a stationmaster named William Ferry took a fancy to him and they both moved to the bustling railway town of Petersburg, now known as Peterborough.

"Bob started going to work with William on the station and took an interest in the trains and started riding on them," Ms Parker said.

"He rode all through South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

"He learned his craft by jumping from one train to the other as the train lines proceeded.

"He liked to sit up on the coal tender or squeeze into the front where the engine driver was because the fire was nice and warm, and it could be quite cold in the winter through Peterborough."

Celebrity status

Ms Parker said Bob was loved by all and was regularly spotted in the newspapers.

During his travels, he attended many high profile events.

"He went to banquets, he went to the opening of the bridge over the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, and we think he might've gone to the Melbourne Cup," she said.